Jointly with JICA ICT Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening Project and Rwanda ICT Chamber, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo co-organized “Rwanda ICT and Innovation Forum” in Tokyo on 26 August 2019.

At the Forum, which aims to demonstrate and promote business opportunity in Rwanda especially in the field of ICT and innovation, nearly 90 people from the Japanese private sector participated, which reflects growing interest in Rwanda.

Mr. Yuko Yasunaga, Head of UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, participated in the panel discussion “Environment that will enable business expansion to Africa through Rwanda” and introduced activities of UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, including the Delegate Program from Rwanda ICT Chamber and Sustainable Technology Promotion Platform (STePP), a platform designed to share information on Japanese technologies that contribute to tackle issues challenges faced by developing countries.

In the networking session, 23 private companies from Rwanda participated and had business discussion with Japanese companies.

 

Outline

Date/time:         26 August 2019 (Mon), 13:30-18:30　
Venue:                United Nations University
                           Elizabeth Hall (5F) / Committee Room 1, 2 & 3 
Organizer:          JICA ICT Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening Project,
                           Rwanda ICT Chamber　
Co-organizers:   UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, etc.
Language:          English-Japanese with simultaneous translation

 

Program

Opening Remarks
Mr. Atsushi Yamanaka (Chief Advisor, ICT Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening Project)

Session 1:

• Keynote：Investment and Business Opportunities in Rwanda
  Mr. Guy Baron (Chief Investment Officer, Rwanda Development Board)
• Panel discussion：Investing and Doing Business FROM Rwanda
  Moderator: Mr. Samuel Imanishimwe（Investment Advisor）
  – Mr. Alex Ntale （CEO, ICT Chamber）
  – Mr. Guy Baron (Chief Investment Officer of Rwanda Development Board)
  – Ms. Mammy Ingabire（Managing Director, Charis-UAS）
  – Mr. Shigefumi Okumura (Director, Future Corporation Strategic AI Group)

Session 2:

• Keynote：Rwanda and beyond
  Mr. Atsushi Yamanaka (Chief Advisor, ICT Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening Project)
• Panel discussion：Environment that will enable business expansion to Africa through Rwanda

  Moderator: Mr. Jovani Ntabgoba (Investment Advisor)
  – Mr. Yuko Yasunaga （Head UNIDO ITPO Tokyo）
  – Mr. Emile Kinuma (CEO, MobiCash)
  – Mr. Atsushi Yamanaka (Chief Advisor, ICT Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening Project)
  – Mr. Kota Tsuda (Transport and ICT Group, Infrastructure and Peacebuilding Dept., JICA)

Session 3:

• Keynote：Accelerating Rwanda’s Innovation Ecosystem
  Ms. Tesi Rusagara (Head, Kigali Innovation City)

Networking Session:

• JICA ICT Innovation Ecosystem Strengthening Project’s initiative
  Mr. Sumyung Kaise (Project Coordinator, JICA ICT Innovation Ecosystem Strenghthening Project)
  Mr. Christian Beck (Allm Inc.)
• Networking / B2B Matching

Closing Remarks
Mr. Jimmy Rutabingwa (Vice Chairman of Rwanda ICT Chamber)

Reception